Young south-west trio face up to AFL draft scrutiny

Koroit’s Martin Gleeson, South Warrnambool’s Louis Herbert and Colac’s Dean Towers will show their football abilities in front of club scouts at the AFL draft combine.

The trio are among almost 120 footballers — including 10 from overseas — hoping to have their names called out on either the national or rookie draft day.

Teenagers Gleeson and Herbert were part of the North Ballarat Rebels squad which finished as TAC Cup minor premier but lost a preliminary final.

Towers, 22, played for North Ballarat Roosters in the VFL and also represented the league in a representative clash against Tasmania.

His performances won him the Fothergill-Round Medal for the most promising young player in the VFL.

AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan said the south-west footballers’ presence at the four-day combine meant clubs were keen to see what they could offer.

Sheehan said footballers would be at Docklands stadium from 7.30am for breakfast until potentially 10pm this week. “It’s the longest job interview in the sporting world and it goes over four days,” he said.